Cricket stars’ Twitter hunt for late England ace’s stolen gear

Some of the world’s greatest cricketers joined forces to launch a Twitter hunt for thieves who stole prized possessions of a dead England star.

Adam (left) and Ben Hollioake became the fifth pair of brothers to play cricket for England

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan was joined by current international Kevin Pietersen and Aussie great Shane Warne in appealing for help.They and countless others took to the site after Adam Hollioake – himself a former England international – tweeted that burglars had broken into his parents’ home in Perth, Australia to steal treasured items belonging to his brother, Ben.Rising star Ben played two Tests and 20 one day internationals before he was killed in a car crash in Perth, aged 24, ten years ago.

The Hollioake brothers made their names playing for Surrey in the late 1990s

‘Message to thieves of my brothers kit…R u confident that your mates arent gunna rat on you? Do the right thing leave the kit somewere its gunna be found,’ tweeted Adam.

He told BBC Sport: ‘It meant a lot to my mum, so seeing her sad was probably the worst thing.’ Items taken included Ben’s England shirts and sweaters.Vaughan added: ‘Please help find the idiots who have broken into @adamhollioake parents’ house.’Western Australia police later raided a property in Perth and recovered some of the kit.